“Through this pandemic, one good thing that has come of it for me, is that I’ve been forced to re-evaluate why I chose to be a nurse in the first place. I strive each and every day to make a positive impact on my patients’ lives, no matter how small it may be. And, despite the tough conditions that we as healthcare professionals continue to face, I’m proud to be a member of the Orthopedic and Neurosurgical team and know that we will come out stronger because of it.”
- Jamie-Lynn Ellis, RN Orthopaedics/Neurosurgery
From a very young age Brodie Gies-MacNeil knew he wanted to help people.
His uncle, a Registered Nurse, would always talk about what he got to do at work and the people he cared for, and it inspired Brodie to become a nurse himself.
“Working in the ICU at HSN has presented me with unique learning opportunities that have not only positively impacted me professionally but personally as well.
On a daily basis, we care for the sickest patients in our region. We are there for some of the best and worst moments of their lives.
They’re vulnerable and rely on us to be their advocate.
My coworkers have become like my second family and have made coming to work feel like home!”
- Brodie Gies-MacNeil, RN ICU
“Nursing and healthcare have always been interests of mine and, after having worked in various inpatient settings, I finally found my home in Clinical Research at the Northeast Cancer Centre. The work we do as nurses in general can be really rewarding, but it’s especially meaningful for me to work directly with patients who are facing a cancer diagnosis and who agree to participate in a clinical trial that could improve how these cancers are treated in the future.”
- Robyn Huffels, Department Supervisor and Lead Nurse for the CRAFT project
When Angela McQuire started working as an Occupational Health Nurse at Health Sciences North in January 2020, no one knew how much the impeding pandemic would shape her career. Yet, during the last few years, she has stepped up as a go-to Occupational Health nurse, providing support and resources to both managers and staff regarding COVID-19 exposures, close contact management and outbreaks management.
Occupational health nurses are a key component of every hospital. While front line health-care workers are supporting and caring for our patients and their family, Occupational Health and Safety nurses are working in the background, supporting our staff and keeping them safe.
“Although the pandemic has been difficult on many fronts, it has banded healthcare workers together like never before. Every area of health care is facing unique challenges and struggles. The only way through it is to lean on each other and support each other.
Our wonderful health-care workers show up every day to ensure we are providing excellent care to our patients and our community. We are all in this together. Everyone has a part to play that is equally important: nurses, food services, lab, medical staff, EVS, and every other department as well. We have all rallied, and rallied together.”
- Angela McGuire, RN Occupational Health
“I am a second generation NICU nurse at HSN. I wanted to follow in my mom’s footsteps and help our smallest patients have the best start possible in this world” -
- Jennifer Natti, Nurse Clinician, NICU and Pediatrics
“My favourite part of being a nurse is working with kids, there is never a dull moment. Knowing the pediatric psychiatry unit is a safe place for them and able to help them with all the challenges they’ve faced during these tough times.” - Vanesssa Daypuk, RN with CAMHP
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